Jets huddle up for draft strategy after hectic offseason of free-agent signings

Staten Island Advance file photo by Rich KaneJets head coach Rex Ryan will be looking for another big score during this week's NFL draft.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Bart Scott feigned surprise when asked if he was at all interested in the NFL draft.

"I thought we already had the draft with all these acquisitions we got," said the smiling New York Jets linebacker. "We’ve still got picks? Man, I’m excited."

So are the Jets. In what has already been a busy offseason, New York has five draft picks to play with, including the 29th overall selection.

"We’d like to go into this year’s draft with as much flexibility as possible," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "We think we’ve done that."

That’s because Tannenbaum has been aggressive this offseason, despite being somewhat handcuffed by the league’s "Final Eight" rule that has restricted the players New York could sign.

The Jets, who made it to the AFC championship game last season, filled one of their biggest needs by trading for Antonio Cromartie, pairing him with All-Pro Darrelle Revis and giving them potentially the best cornerback duo in the league.

Needing a field-stretching wide receiver to complement Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery, Tannenbaum again came up big by getting former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh for a fifth-round pick.

The Jets allowed Thomas Jones, who led the league’s top-rushing offense last season, to leave through free agency. But then they wined, dined and signed LaDainian Tomlinson, convinced the former league MVP still has something left.

"We try to put ourselves in the best position possible where we can go into Thursday, Friday and Saturday and just see how the board unfolds," Tannenbaum said last week.

The Jets general manager has also shown a tendency to not stand pat on draft day, wheeling and dealing picks and players like a stock broker. He traded up last year to take quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick, and did so again to get running back Shonn Greene at the top of the third round.

New York also moved up in recent drafts to get Revis, tight end Dustin Keller and linebacker David Harris — all key players for the franchise.

"I told these guys we are not trading up this year," Tannenbaum said with a grin. "No matter what happens, grab the phones. I don’t want to trade up, but we’ll see what happens. I think we’re happy with where we are, but we’ll let the board dictate what we do. I like where we are. I want to keep our first two picks where we are. We should get two good football players that can help us. We know what their salaries reasonably should be."

The Jets went exclusively with offensive players with their three picks last year, taking Sanchez, Greene and offensive lineman Matt Slauson. Defense will be the focus this time around, with coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine looking to shore up a unit that ranked No. 1 in the league last season.

"We can’t get Mike Pettine out of the draft room," Tannenbaum said with a laugh. "I would expect the first Rex Ryan defensive player to be drafted this year."

In the meantime, the Jets are still waiting to hear from free agent linebacker-defensive end Jason Taylor, who’s considering joining the team. The NFL’s active sacks leader could help fill one of the Jets’ draft-day needs by providing a pass-rushing presence, but he isn’t expected to make a decision until shortly before the draft.

Even if the Jets get Taylor, they might still target a defensive end or linebacker who can get to the quarterback such as Penn State’s Jared Odrick, Michigan’s Brandon Graham or TCU’s Jerry Hughes.

Defensive line will also be an area the Jets look at, particularly with Shaun Ellis and Kris Jenkins over 30 years old entering the season.

"I don’t think necessarily we have to take somebody in the first two picks," Tannenbaum said, "but we want to add another player in there to have sustainable success up front."

After trading safety Kerry Rhodes to Arizona, the Jets signed free agent Brodney Pool to play opposite Jim Leonhard. They still might jump at Southern California’s playmaking Taylor Mays if he’s still available at No. 29, especially since Pool has had concussion issues.

Also, don’t be surprised if the Jets go after another cornerback or two in the second round and beyond.

"Right after we hired him, I said, ‘What do you think about Rex?’" Tannenbaum said he asked Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome. "He said, ‘I’m shipping him up I-95 and he has a little sign around his neck that says I need corners.’ That’s just who Rex is. He cannot have enough corners."